CHAPTER 2

Charles had planned to leave Hope Valley until he heard of Jack's sudden departure. He then decided to take advantage of Jack's absence. He tried to spend as much time with Elizabeth as possible and convince her to change her mind, but she remained resolute and committed to Jack.


Jack arrived at the Mountie headquarters in Hamilton and began pondering further what Bill Avery had shared with him since the day he arrested Bill. Jack was no longer certain who he could trust. What about their supervisor Superintendent Houston who Bill suspected? Could Jack even trust Bill? He'd had plenty of reasons to doubt him with his recent suspicious activities. Who else might be involved in this counterfeit ring? At the request of one of his highest ranking superiors, he covertly looked for answers; some disturbing details were beginning to emerge. Due to the nature of this investigation, only a select few were to know of his whereabouts, which meant he couldn't even get word to Elizabeth…


In Hope Valley Elizabeth carried on as best she could, but the days slowly dragged by with no word from Jack. Her sleep was rattled by dreams of him in danger. During the day her mind would wander to their times together, including when they first met when he was so furious with her and her father. Truth was she was drawn to him from the start. She smiled at the memory. Then frowned. Now she'd do anything to have him back. She looked at the picture of the two of them that he had drawn for her. She picked it up and held it close. "Oh, Jack, please be safe. Come home soon."

A few days later a man drove an automobile in to Hope Valley to see Charles. Elizabeth watched them from inside the Café until Charles turned and walked to his room at the saloon. A short time later Charles entered the Café and found her in the kitchen. "I have to get back to Hamilton; I'm leaving immediately. Please, Elizabeth, think about what I've said. You and I are meant to be together!"

"Charles, my answer is final. I will not marry you!"

Charles' jaws clenched, and his eyes flashed with anger. "Where is this Mountie of yours, Elizabeth? Have you heard from him?" She lowered her eyes. He knew the answer to that. He grabbed her wrists, so hard that she gasped and cried out in pain. "You have no idea, do you? He doesn't care at all about you!"

"Charles! Let go of me!" He did as she ordered, slightly stunned by his own actions, then turned and quickly walked away. Elizabeth rubbed her wrists. She was puzzled; she had never seen her friend like this. She breathed a sigh of relief when Charles and the other man drove out of Hope Valley not long after.

Elizabeth walked up the stairs to her room. School was winding down for the long summer break, and she needed to begin preparing for a trip to Hamilton for her sister Viola's wedding.

On the last day of school, she said goodbye to her students, but deep down she wondered if this might be the last time she would see them.

The day after school ended, Abigail walked out with her to the awaiting stagecoach. Some of students and their mothers were there to send her off as well.

"Have a safe journey, Elizabeth. I'll let you know if we hear from Jack," Abigail told her.

"Thank you!" Elizabeth hugged her friend. "Hopefully I'll see you in a few months." With that, she climbed in the coach.

To be continued...